In his short two year reign, Claudius Gothicus struck a large number of truly ratty coins. There's a paper in a 1969 edition of The Numismatic Chronicle entitled "The Nadir of the Imperial Antoninianus in the Reign of Claudius II Gothicus". That's right, "NADIR"... so quite literally, the pits. And, while that paper addresses the microscopically token level of silver in his coins, most will agree that in general his coins score little better in terms of style and production values when compared to those struck in any of the other 1st to 3rd century years of Roman Imperial coinage. All that said, I've never been one to shy away from the enjoyment of ANY coin, because I've always felt our little pieces of history deserve to be loved for what they are and what they represent of their times . But okay, before I start waxing lyrical over all the uncollectible coins I own, let me first show this unusually nice Claudius Gothicus that I did manage to pick up recently. It's in recognizably Antiochean style and nothing rare, but what it has going for it is an exceptionally well-executed portrait, deeply struck and decently centered enough that none of the devices are missing. Even the patchy silvering won't keep me calling this a flat-out stunner of a coin. Yes, it's already getting the stink eye from its many other less than pretty tray neighbours . Please feel free to post your coins of Claudius Gothicus! CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS AE Antoninianus. 3.29g, 20.5mm. Antioch mint, circa early – mid AD 270. New RIC Online Temp #1053; RIC 221; Cohen 273. O: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate head right. R: SOL AVG, Sol with whip and upraised arm standing left.
I have one and it was among the first ancient coin purchases I've made. Claudius II (Gothicus), AD 268 - 270 AE, antoninianus, 3.8g, 20mm; 11h; Rome, AD 269 Obv.: IMP C CLAUDIUS AVG; radiate, draped, curiassed bust right Rev.: GENIVS AVG; Genius standing left by altar, holding patera and cornucopiae
Claudius II Coin: Bronze Antoninianus IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped bust right FIDES MILIT - Fides standing left holding two standards. Mint: Milan (268–270 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 4.76g / 20mm / - References: RIC 149 corr. ("standing right"); Cohen 88 Sear 11335 RIC 149 Tatty but pretty colours Claudius II Coin: Bronze Ant IMP C CLADIVUS AVG - Radiate, curiassed bust right VIRTVS AVG - Soldier standing let holding branch and spear shield at foot retrograde epsilon in left field Mint: Rome (268-270 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.11g / 21mm / - References: RIC 109 Crappy obverse, but the reverse..... Claudius II Coin: Bronze Ant IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG - Radiate, draped bust right SPES P-VBLICA - Spes walking left, holding flower and raising robe Mint: Mediolanum* (Sept. 268-Jan. 269 A) Wt./Size/Axis: 2.16g / 20mm / - References: RIC V 168 Venèra 9073-9106 Notes: Nov 23, 14 - *No mint mark, should be P lots of silvering remains
I have some provincials to add . Tetradrachms of that general period in Roman Egypt had degraded quite a bit-- fabric, style, and quality-- but under Claudius II there appears to have been at least one talented engraver. EGYPT, Alexandria. Claudius II Gothicus year 1, CE 268 tetradrachm Obv: AVTKKΛAΔIOCCEB; laureate draped bust right Rev: eagle standing right, head left, wreath in beak; L- A in right field Ref: Emmett 3878.1, R1 EGYPT, Alexandria. Claudius II Gothicus year 3, CE 269/70 tetradrachm, 20 mm, 10.2 gm Obv: AVTKKΛAVΔIOCCEB (In theory: what I can read on this coin doesn't quite match what the legend is supposed to be. Probably just engraver error or die deterioration); laureate head right Rev: Tyche standing left with rudder and cornucopia; L Γ in left field Ref: Emmett 3896.3, R4
@Pishpash, that's quite a pretty Spes for the period. @Jwt708, a Claudius II was one of my first ancient pickups as well, a classic Divo Claudio, with all the typical problems of the period. Still love it.
Yeah, I bet your guy was getting the ol' stink eye from the other die cutters at the Alexandria mint .
A little more Gothicus love. CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS AE Antoninianus. 2.23g, 19.6mm. Antioch mint, AD 269-270. RIC 217 (scarce). O: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right. R: SALVS AVG, Isis standing left holding sistrum and basket; [e] in exergue. CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS Billon Antoninianus. 3.8g, 20mmm. Mediolanum mint, AD 268-270. RIC 171; C 302; Sear 11379. O: IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, radiate draped bust right. R: VICTORIA AVG, Victory running right holding wreath and palm; S in exergue.
Some of the low points..... I have worse.... Claudius II Gothicus Obv:– IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, Radiate head left Rev:– IVNO REGINA, Juno standing left, patera in right, scepter in left, peacock at feet left Minted in Antioch. September 268 - August or September 270 A.D. Reference:– RIC V 212 Claudius II Gothicus Obv:– IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind Rev:– IVVENTVS AVG, Hercules standing facing, head turned right, holding club set on ground in right hand, apple in left Minted in Antioch (//D). A.D. 68 - 270 Reference:– RIC 213 But when they were good they were actually quite nice.... Claudius II Gothicus Obv:– IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– VIRTVS AVG, Mars advancing right, holding trophy and spear Minted in Milan. (P in exe) Reference:– RIC 172. Cohen 315 Their Alexandrian quality was sometimes superb. I find the reverse of this one utterly enchanting. Claudius II Gothicus, Billon tetradrachm Obv:– AVT K KΛAVΔIOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– None, Nike advancing right, holding wreath & palm, year Minted in Alexandria, L in left field, B in right field (year 2). A.D. 268/269 Reference:– Curtis 1712, BMC 2321 Milne 4228 Martin
@maridvnvm, the second Antioch with the Marty Feldman eye is quite brilliant! Your Alexandrian and @TIF's suggest that more of us should be looking out for them.
Ummm sure, I'll go after Martin's sweet examples ... this has to be my "most humble" ancient coin ... => oh, and it happens to be my 2nd ancient coin purchase "ever" (yah, apparently I wasn't quite as savvy back then, eh?) Don't worry, lil' Claudius-II ... you still have a warm place in my coin-heart
Oh, sorry Z-Bro (I didn't comment on your amazingly awesome OP-addition!!) => it is a gorgeous example ... man, I am huge fan of Sol-types (The Sol man) => I'm jealous of your new winner
Wonderful example @zumbly !! Terrific example guys, especially those cool provincials. A couple of my better examples: A 'Gothico' example and a Tet of Alexandria:
One that might be described as "the nadir," PROVIDENTIA AVG: And one that's fairly decent in style and still with quite a bit of silvering left. RESTITVTOR ORBIS:
Great coin, Z! Bad image, hard to get. Claudius II (268 - 270 A.D.) Æ Antoninianus O: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. R: SALVS AVG, Isis Faria standing facing, head left, holding sistrum and basket; Є Antioch mint 22mm 3.37g RIC 217
VERY nice CIIG! Well done finding that quality piece. I have a couple, not nearly as nice. However, for my collection they are placeholders in my Emperors Portraits: RI Claudius II 268-270 BI Ant Fortuna RI Claudius II 268-270 CE BI Ant Neptune Stndg dolphin trident
My favorite Claudius II is this very tough to find piece: Ox: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rx: REGI ARTIS, Vulcanus standing right, holding hammer and tongs
Very nice! Despite the wretched condition of most of his coinage, he did have some interesting and unusual issues. If I recall correctly, REGI ARTIS (something like 'to the Ruler of the Arts') is unique to Claudius II.